Hip replacement surgery is a common solution for people suffering from severe joint pain or arthritis. While the procedure itself improves mobility and reduces pain, the recovery process depends on your post-surgery routines, especially your diet. Certain foods can slow healing and increase inflammation. In this article, we’ll explore the top foods to avoid for hip replacement surgery to support a rapid, safer recovery.
Why Diet Matters During Hip Replacement Recovery?
A good diet after hip replacement surgery plays a vital role in effective or quick body recovery. The healing process may take a longer time if a balanced diet is not taken. To make a good recovery, follow these points after surgery:
Tissue Repair and Bone Healing
For regenerating bone around the hip implantation area, you have to maintain your basic body needs, such as protein, vitamins, and minerals. Especially, those that have vitamin C, calcium, and zinc, because these help you with collagen formation, bone health, and tissue repair.
Inflammation and Pain
Avoid those foods that have sugar and salt in high volume, because they can increase swelling around the surgical area. To reduce these type of problems, take diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Maintain Your Weight
How many times have we seen that the people who had surgery gain weight? Gaining weight after surgery can increase pressure on your new hip joint and delay recovery. To reduce the chances of gaining weight, you have to work out daily, but you have to make sure that you don’t overpressure your surgical part. With the exercise, take a healthy diet that helps you not gain weight.
Boost Your Immune Function
A diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins A and E, and iron strengthens your immune defenses, reduce the risk of infection during recovery.
Why Do We Need Hip Replacement Surgery?
Doctors recommend hip arthroplasty only when the hip joint is badly damaged or the mobility is greatly reduced. Below are some cases, this procedure is suggested:
- Swelling, short term pain, stiffness, or swelling in your hip joint is prominent and your mobility is limited.
- The pain is so intense that it interferes with your day-to-day activities.
- A feeling of despair as a result of the pain and loss of mobility.
- Your social circle and professional life is at risk. The pain and limited mobility are causing a disturbance in the daily routine.
Top 10 Foods to Avoid in Hip Replacement Surgery
Processed foods contain refined ingredients and are rich in:
- Salt
- Sugar
- Saturated Fat
In the refining process, they separate fiber and nutrients, thus leaving the body devoid of beneficial components. Below are foods to avoid for hip replacement or hip arthroplasty.
1. Foods Rich in Sugar
Refining sugar impacts the body’s metabolism slowly, making it a sweet poison. An increased sugar intake can lead to different health issues.The body significantly weakens its ability to heal wounds. Besides, foods rich in sugar can contribute to:
- Weight Gain
- Added Stress on the new hip joint
A 2017 survey that was done on 217 people who had rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 24% reported that their food intake affected their RA symptoms, either positively or negatively. The survey also found that participants customarily reported food desserts and sugary sodas as the most common triggers for RA symptoms. Thus, it’s advisable to limit consumption of candies, pastries, sugary drinks, and processed snacks.
2. Fried Foods
Deep-fried or unhealthy fats can lead to:
- Digestive Discomfort
- Bloating
- Increased Inflammation
Consuming unhealthy foods on a regular basis can increase weight in certain individuals. And this may hamper mobility as well as put additional strain on the hip joint. Rich in saturated and trans fats, these can aggravate the worsening of symptoms and also the hip joint. The inflammation in the hip can increase the pain and may pose a serious concern if we do not take immediate action.
3. Processed Meats or Red Meats
Research conducted on animal food, showed that red meat and processed meat have a direct correlation with inflammation. And this may increase arthritis symptoms. Excessive salt can lead to water retention and increased swelling, which can be particularly uncomfortable during the recovery period. For instance, those who consume more red meat may have higher levels of:
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6)
- C-reactive protein (CRP)
- Homocysteine
All of the above are promoters of inflammation. Research conducted in 2019 revealed that a plant-based diet excluding red meat greatly reduces symptoms for arthritis.
4. Sodium Rich Foods
A cut in the intake of salt is beneficial for arthritis patients. Fast foods cause an increase in blood pressure and fluid retention.When a person is in a position where they notice a difficulty in getting rid of excess fluid, it leads to swelling. Swelling is likely to occur in the legs, feet, and ankles. Foods rich in salt content include:.
- Saltysnacks
- Canned food
- Street food or Fast food
5. Recognized Vegetable Oil
A diet rich in omega-6 fats and low in omega-3 fats may aggravate knee pain, which is a visible sign of RA. The above fats are vital for good health and an imbalance in these fat types increases inflammation.
Fish, oily seeds, and green and leafy vegetables contain Omega-3. Sunflower and corn oil, as well as margarines, contain Omega-6. Research indicates that light avocado oil, flaxseed oil, and virgin olive oil are healthier options that are high in omega-3 fatty acids and can help decrease joint inflammation.
6. Spicy Foods
Food with strong, hot, or pungent flavor can irritate the digestive tract with the presence of spices like:
- Chili
- Peppers
- Ginger
- Horseradish
It can lead to heartburn and indigestion. If you’re experiencing gastrointestinal discomfort after surgery, it’s best to avoid spicy dishes.
7. Dairy Products (for Some Individuals)
Although dairy is a good source of calcium and protein, digestive issues are prominent in some people and include:
- Bloating
- Constipation
Whole meat, cheese, and butter are rich in saturated fat and at times it can lead to inflammation.
As per the data published in ‘The Journal of Nutrition’ in 2015, researchers observed an increase in low-grade inflammation in a small sample of German adults who consumed dairy foods. Researchers revealed that more than 40,000 people with osteoarthritis (OA), who ate more dairy products, were more likely to need hip replacement surgery.
8. Gluten Rich Food
People find gluten in a type of protein that includes:
- Wheat
- Barley
- Rye
- Other Grains
According to a trusted source, researchers link it with increased inflammation. And it implies that a gluten-free diet may help with arthritic symptoms. Celiac disease patients are also more likely to get RA than those who do not have the condition. According to a report, a gluten-free, vegan diet may lower disease activity and inflammation.
However, researchers need to conduct further studies to determine whether a gluten-free diet can help persons with arthritis.
9. Alcoholic and Non-alcoholic Beverages
Although red wine is rich in resveratrol, an antioxidant known for health benefits, drinking alcohol has its negative side too.
- Consuming alcohol frequently or more often increases the risk of osteoarthritis.
- Taking alcohol regularly increases uric acid in the body, and this can lead to gout. i.e., severe pain and redness in the joints.
10. Sugary Drinks
Consuming soda drinks risk the likelihood of arthritis. Drinks rich in fructose can increase the uric acid leading to gout. The increased level of uric acid can crystalize in the joints and lead to a worsening of joint pain, a feature of gout. Sweetened drinks are rich in:
- Sugar
- Aspartame
- Phosphoric Acid
Tip: These are foods to avoid for hip replacement surgery because all of the above can hamper the body’s potential to absorb calcium, which is necessary for bone health.
Conclusion
You should avoid foods that promote inflammation, digestive pain, or prescription interactions. By sticking to a healthy gluten free diet, you can keep your body in perfect shape and healthy. Our expert team can assist you to have a smoother and quicker recovery after hip replacement surgery.
